IMMIGRATION
New state law threatens farm labor, ag industry
Recent reports in the AJC illustrate the perils new state immigration legislation imposes on Georgia’s economy. Perhaps the results of most concern are the shortage of farm labor and potentially devastating results for Georgia’s ag industry.
The new state law is scaring away legal resident immigrants (as well as undocumented workers) who have harvested Georgia crops for decades. Meanwhile, farmers wonder how they will find enough workers for harvest. To avoid this devastation, growers should try to compete for U.S. workers by improving wages and working conditions.
They also should make smart use of the H-2A guest worker program. Georgia’s congressional delegation also should get to work on passing the labor-management compromise called AgJOBS, which would improve the H-2A program and give current undocumented farm workers the opportunity to earn legal immigration status.
Bruce Goldstein, president, Farmworker Justice
SPORTS
Pick of paralyzed player restores faith in game
Just when you get turned off by major league sports, with its lockouts, cut-throat negotiations, rising ticket prices and steroid scandals, something comes along that restores your faith in the game and the people who manage it.
By drafting paralyzed Georgia player Johnathan Taylor, the Texas Rangers organization showed tremendous class and compassion for a player who will never play one inning for them. Nobody expected them to do this (nor were they forced to do it) — but they took the moral high ground, did the right thing and have earned the respect of baseball fans everywhere. Next to the Braves, they’ll always be the team I’ll be rooting for.
Jerry Schwartz, Alpharetta
Baseball athletes need to play to earn their pay
Jeff Schultz needs to be more critical (“Chipper’s message loud and clear,” Sports, June 10). Jason Heyward, Chipper Jones and other baseball players have evolved into overpaid babies who sit for a month when they stub their tootsies. MLB needs to abolish the disabled list: Either you play or you don’t get paid. When you collect thousands of dollars per at-bat, you at least should warm up and be ready to run (not pull a hamstring and be out for a month, getting paid for nothing).
Charles Tatter, Marietta
ENERGY
Congress needs to act to help save the planet
Nero’s fiddling while Rome burns may be a myth, but myths have a way of enduring.
We’re roasting in the South with no end in sight; parts of Arizona are burning up; and floods are ruining homes and farms in the Midwest.
Despite the preponderance of evidence that climate change is linked with depletion of the ozone layer, Congress has not seen fit to pass the CLEAR Act. This bill would decarbonize the U.S. economy and compensate consumers for increases in energy costs.
When will Congress stop fiddling — and do the right thing for the planet?
Priscilla H. Padrón, Atlanta
